• Pre-Shave : Shower, Proraso Green Pre-Shave
• Bowl : Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
• Brush : PAA Peregrino
• Soap : Proraso Green
• Razor : Razorock MJ-90A + Bulldog Handle w/Bic Chrome Platinum
• Post Shave : Proraso Green Pre-Shave + Proraso Green Aftershave Lotion
• Others : Menthol in Salt Grinder

Another “Back To Basics Shave” and its one that started it all for me. Proraso Green.
Actually its the entire Proraso line, but it was green that was my gateway drug into the wetshaving rabbit hole of getting more soaps, more scents, better shaves.

And for many, that eucalyptus and menthol morning wake up call is just something else.
For the brave, grind in even more menthol to turn it “Glacial”.

Going with possibly one of the best, most affordable, if you can only buy one and only one razor just under $30, razor that takes the venerable DE89 and made much needed improvements to that razor design.
Drop in a sharp blade like a Feather / Bic / Nacet and be surprised at just how good this razor is.
Smooth, mild, comfortable, fairly easy to master.

Finished with using the Pre-Shave as a settling balm (most people don’t know that Proraso’s “pre-shaves” can be used in the Post shave as well) followed by the fantastic Proraso Green Aftershave Lotion.
As someone we all know would have say “AWESOME SAUCE!”

Smooth, easy, true glass “I keep touching myself” BBS shave.

Stay safe
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• Pre-Shave : Shower, Proraso White Pre-Shave
• Bowl : Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
• Brush : PAA Peregrino
• Soap : Proraso White
• Razor : Parker Variant w/Zaza Blade
• Post Shave : Proraso White Post shave Balm
• Others : Menthol In Salt Grinder

Restarting the Rotation with “Back to Basics” shaves. Kicking off with Proraso White.
Scented with green tea, oats, lime and apple, this is a light, distinctive scent. Some might think its a little medicinal though.
I have the old stuff so I will have to just use them generously to use it all my Proraso stuff up (and I have way too much of the old stuff) to get the new formula release.

The Parker Variant is a good razor though mine has a slight flaw with blade balance, still its workable.
To me, this is a blade forward razor so, a little more care, keeping that zero pressure strokes constant and you’d get an easy BBS shave.

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• Pre-Shave : Shower (Old Spice Shower Gel), PAA Cube
• Brush : Oumo 24mm ACE SHD Dual Band Manchurian Badger
• Soap : PAA Cold Spices
• Razor : Tatara Nodachi + RR SS UFO Handle w/ZAZA Super Stainless Blade
• Post Shave : PAA Cold Spices Star Jelly Aftershave, Aftershave Cologne
• Others : PAA Cold Spices Deodorant, Epic Solid Cologne and EDP

Off day, Old Shulton Old Spice day!
And yes, its a Full Monty.
I had an Old Shulton bath bar but I can’t remember if it was from PAA, Soap Commander or one of the other artisans.
It’s gone though, used up some time ago.
So went with P&G’s shower gel.
I know! I know! But at least its the start of the scent layer with the real stuff coming later.

From Shave to finish, the scent just brought a smile to my face.
Guys, step back from the insanity going on.
Let go of the hate, the stress, all the nonsense that if you let them, will sour your soul.

For me, its going to an animal shelter with the wife today to see if we can pick up a cat.
Just go do something that just makes you smile.

Went again with the Nodachi and this time with a Zaza blade.
One word, Smooth!
The Zazas while not as sharp as my favorites and it is more in line with Personnas, is very smooth. The Nodachi just plows through stuff like its not there and while this time I do feel a little more resistance, its not too bad, just a wee tiny bit of tug and its gone.

More importantly, I got my clean, perfect BBS shave.

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• Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA Cube
• Brush : Friendship Shaving Macy Dual Band Manchurian Badger by Frank Shaving
• Soap : PAA Solstice
• Razor : PAA Copper Ascension w/Bic Chrome Platinum (TSOA)
• Post Shave : PAA Solstice Star Jelly Aftershave, Aftershave Cologne
• Others : PAA Solstice Deodorant, Epic Solid Cologne

Just picking random soaps to use. I’ll probably restart the rotation by going “budget / unknown shaves” at the start of next week.

But for today, its going to be Sage, Glorious Sage!
PAA has so many soaps that just smells fantastic and this is one of them, above and beyond.
Besides, smelling great, sage is good for the body and soul too.
And we need more of that, to take some time, smell the scents and just center ourselves.

How could I not go with the Copper Ascension and TSOA for this shave? Even TSOA’s wrapping is color coordinated for the shave.

As this is an already proven pairing of blade and hardware, nothing left but to get that perfect, “I keep touching myself” true glass BBS shave.

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• Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA Cube
• Brush : Oumo 24mm ACE SHD Dual Band Manchurian Badger
• Soap : Van Yulay Achilles
• Razor : Tatara Nodachi + RR SS UFO Handle w/Bic Chrome Platinum (TSOA)
• Post Shave : Van Yulay Achilles Aftershave Splash

Mail came in early, just in time before I have to shave before heading off to work.
All good stuff from Van Yulay, and as you can see, they are all hard pucks which I find more to my liking.

I chose to go with Achilles, as it has been on my “to buy list” for the longest of time.

Lathering up is easy, either use the puck like a shave stick and rub it directly to your face or hand hold the puck and brush load, then clean up the puck / pat dry before replacing it in the tin. Or you can scrape silvers off and put it in a bowl to lather up. I am considering grating it into a tub reusable tub for tub loading / face lathering.

Scent though, is really old school good.

You immediately pick up on Bourbon, aged tobacco leaves and cherry. The other notes as noted on Monica’s site just blends in and you may get individual hints but the main notes just blows you away.
The tobacco especially is dark, deep and smoky, its not the “ash” / burnt tobacco type scent, and plays very well with the bourbon.

It is AWESOME!

Taking a deep whiff, the scent brings back, more of images of men of the 50s, than of today’s “men”.

Went again with the Nodachi today, and fittingly, with TSOA.
Even as I am aware of the blade, it just felt so freaking smooth. Very little resistance, just that tiny bit when growth meets blade and its gone.

Perfect, no irritation, true glass, “I keep touching myself” BBS shave.

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• Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA Cube
• Brush : Oumo 24mm ACE SHD Dual Band Manchurian Badger
• Soap : Clubman Pinaud Shave Soap
• Razor : Tatara Nodachi + RR SS UFO Handle w/Lord Platinum Blade
• Post Shave : Clubman Pinaud Gent’s Gin

Was recommended the soap to try, got some off Amazon. Two, two ounce tubs for about $11.50, though I am pretty sure if you shop around and if you can find this in the wild it’ll probably be cheaper.

The Tubs they came in though is ridiculously small, there is no way you are going to brush load without making a mess, but the soap itself is a very soft waxy glycerin type, my guess is that you are meant to scoop out some and bowl lather.

Or you can do what I did, empty out the contents into a larger tub, microwave it for about 15 to 20 seconds, you do not want it to boil, just heat it enough for the soap to melt and let it form itself with the shape of the tub its now in.

Sets and sort of hardens into a soft croap, so you can still scoop out for bowl lathering or just brush load directly from the tub.

Lather quality is actually surprisingly good, if not as thick nor as bodied as the higher tier artisan soaps.
It is however, very slick, and lathers up very easily. Fair residual slickness and minimal post shave feel. No tightening of the skin.

And it smells like Palmolive Shave Stick, just a little lighter in scent, but that fern green scent is unmistakable.

At its price point though, its going up against soaps like Palmolive, Col Conk and even an Artisanal Soap, Wet The Face ($13) so I’d get it if only you want something different to use to change up your soap rotation.

To be fair, it is very good for what it is and if priced a little lower or come in a 4oz tub it would definitely a worthy budget purchase.
YMMV of course.

Went with the default Nodachi today, as I am pairing it with a Lord Blade. The nice thing about having several razors with different shave geometries is that you can match the razor to the blade, in this case a smooth but not as sharp blade compared to say Nacets / Bics / Feathers, to get that comfortable BBS shave you want.

Perfect, no irritation true glass BBS shave.

Stay safe
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Stay happy

• Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA Cube
• Bowl : Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
• Brush : Oumo 24mm ACE SHD Dual Band Manchurian Badger
• Soap : HC&C Scentless + Badass Scent Drops
• Razor : Tatara Masamune Base + Nodachi Cap w/Tiger Platinum Blade
• Post Shave : Lustray Blue Spice

Finally got to try out HC&C and chose to get the unscented with scent drops as I was intrigued with the concept. Buy a soap base, add different scents to your desire.

I need to stop right here and point out to those who are thinking right now, that you can make your own scents.
Yes.
BUT READ UP ON HOW TO FIRST and research this thoroughly.
Also google Essential Oil damage to face and go to the pictures section and take a long look.
Make sure you know what you are doing before using oils / scents in soaps that goes onto your face.

Having said the above, I used 2 drops of Badass for my first go at this.
And immediately, I was like I know that scent!
Or at least a very very near match, and that is , Dior Homme EDT. No wonder you guys are saying it smells great!
As for the lather, Lather Porn attached. 😁

Went with my Zero Zero Masamune again, this time with a Tiger Blade. The Blade is not as sharp as Bics, leaving some parts of my usual trouble spots still with micro-stubble. You know the kind that when you lightly run your fingers over wet skin it feels smooth but the moment it dries somewhat and you run over ATG you’ll feel the bristles?
Yeah.
A little Stretching, and buffing ATG and that got sorted out.
I should pair the Tigers with the Nodachi.

Still I got my BBS, had zero irritation even with the multiple passes so its good.
Finished up with Lustray Blue Spice which pairs very nicely with the soap’s scent.
And yes, final touch with Dior Homme.

Stay safe
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Stay happy

• Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA Cube
• Bowl : Van Yulay Resin
• Brush : Oumo 24mm ACE SHD Dual Band Manchurian Badger
• Soap : WTF Ozark Alchemy
• Razor : Tatara Masamune Base + Nodachi Cap w/Bic Chrome Platinum (TSOA)
• Post Shave : WTF Ozark Alchemy Aftershave Splash

Came home from the Clinic after the mandatory Covid-19 test and saw the Fed-Ex Box, Eff Yeah!
2 more packages to go, last one is still pending “inspections and approval” before I can even start to ship it but thems the pains of shipping “flammables” legally internationally.

@Pete Thanks for the “Extra!” really appreciate it!

@Don Thanks for the Alchemy sheet, 2nd son confiscated it though, and I was like “Don’t go blowing yourself up or drinking anything you make, kaaayss?!”

For today though, I went with Don’s Ozark Alchemy.
Notes are simple.
Cedar, Pine and Fir. But ohhhhh boy, sometimes simple is all you need.
Pine came off strong, think snapping a pine branch and getting that strong resin whiff, balanced by Fir taking that pine bite off making it less “hospital floor wash” and more “into the woods” scent. All sitting on that cedar base that reinforce that “in the woods” vibe. Fresh Pine note is dominant to me.
Fanfreaking AWESOME!

Side note :
Menthol, Don.
MENTHOL! Seriously, I think Imma gonna add some menthol for the next time I use this (maybe tomorrow evening) as I think menthol is going to blow this out into space.

Of course, YMMV, especially if you are not a woods scent type person but I like it.
Don’s soaps performs fantastically of course, Lather Porn Included.
That Oumo brush man, been matching a lot of my soaps lately.

Went with the Zero Zero Masamune, (0.00mm blade exposure) with TSOA.
I think it was a mistake for Tatara to have stopped numbering their plates, (they stopped with the Nodachi plate) and that is a shame. Yeah, it would have been more labor intensive but those of us who have ours numbered are the lucky ones.
I wonder whom has the last numbered plate.

Perfect, shavegasmic, zero irritation, “I keep touching myself” BBS shave.
SHAVEGASMIC I tell you!

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• Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA Cube
• Brush : Oumo 24mm ACE SHD Dual Band Manchurian Badger
• Soap : Ginger’s Garden Floid Type (Floid Blue)
• Razor : Blackland Vector w/Feather Pro Blade
• Post Shave : Epsilon Blue Mediterranean Aftershave

Easy Work day shave, in search of that perfect “Blue Spice” scent.
For today, its going to be Ginger’s Garden and Epsilon Blue.
Anyone with suggestions as to their favorite “blue spice” that is available in the market?

Also, I just saw that Floid relaunched Floid Blue but its now sold as an EDT, and there is no news if they will bring back the legendary aftershave. (Come on Floid, you can do both, both is good)

Went with the Vector again, I really should replace the blade soon, it is starting to feel less smooth, it is still taking off growth rather easily, however, the edge feels like its getting rough so even though the blade will still cut perfectly, it might cause irritation.

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• Pre-Shave : Shower, PAA Cube
• Brush : PAA Peregrino
• Soap : PAA Diver Down
• Razor : PAA Copper Ascension w/Bic Chrome Platinum
• Post Shave : PAA Diver Down Star Jelly Aftershave, Aftershave Cologne
• Others : PAA Diver Down Deodorant and Epic Solid Cologne

Mail call (3 of 6) came in.
When I first heard of Doug remaking Seaforth Spiced I was immediately intrigued, I had never the pleasure to own a bottle, as I while I have seen them but this was when I was a kid around the mid-late70s and by the time I was old enough to shave or got interested in scents for men, it was already gone from the shelves.

Enter Diver Down. A homage to Seaforth Spiced.

And man this smells fantastic! Take a bit of Bay Rum, a bit of Old Spice, throw in Spikenard and you get Diver Down.
I had to look up what Spikenard was and went ” Oh! Jatamansi!” Which smells like minty dark amber and ginger, something over here in Asia that they use to make medicated rubbing oil (Think Axe oil type) usually mixed with nutmeg.
Look for “Eagle Medicated oil”.

Very soothing, very aromatic and relaxing its probably the best blast from the past scent this year and hopefully sales will keep it around far into the future.

CATA-DOC and TSOA, this I know is “Uncle Gary Approved” 😁
Riding on that CK-6 lather? Getting that perfect BBS shave is just too easy.

Had a fantastic shave, smelling even more epic.

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